Rapid Eye Movements in Paradoxical Sleep in Infants

Abstract

In nine infants EEG, horizontal EOG, respiration and EMG of chin muscles were recorded during three sleep cycles from the 2nd to the 24th week. The REM epochs shortened with age becoming less interrupted. The absolute number of REMs did not significantly differ with age. The mean REM/min frequency Increased with age. Also the shortest intervals between single eye movements increased with age. During the segments with frequent REMs the respiratory frequency was higher than in those with few REMs. According to the interval histograms the empirical distribution of REMs differed significantly from the chance distribution. It is suggested that paradoxical sleep not shortens but also develops with age. fullterm infants rapid eye movements paradoxical sleep sleep development